Layan Nashashibi

When you were ten years old, what did you think you would be doing today?

Growing up in Palestine, I thought I would become an artist. I loved painting and drawing. I used to feel that colours gave you the chance to live freely, to go beyond borders you knew.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

With my mom because I believe mothers need to be appreciated for all they do, from the moment they give birth to the moment they die. I started to understand the powerful feelings that motherhood brings and how you will do anything for your children when I became a mom. When my twins were born, I had to walk long distances between Israeli and Palestinian borders and checkpoints every day, for 40 days, just to see my twins in their incubators in the Jerusalem Hospital.

Tell us what you do at the IFRC. What has your most rewarding experience been?

I am responsible for finance and administration in the IFRC Palestine representative office. My most rewarding experience was my hardest one. Last year, I was assigned to support the new IFRC representative office in Israel. Professionally, I always remain neutral. But personally, it was difficult at first. It brought many mixed emotions. It is an experience I will never forget, especially my Israeli colleagues who were so nice. We are all one team at the IFRC. I know now we truly can support each other as one family at the IFRC.